Bulgarian Officials Voice Concern over Lack of Progress in North Macedonia, Back EU Enlargement for Western Balkans

Borislava Bibinovska, Diana Dukovska

Joint meeting of the parliamentary committees on Foreign Policy and on European Affairs, Sofia, January 15, 2026 (BTA Photo/Nikola Uzunov)

Sofia,

15.01.2026 18:07

(BTA)

Deputy Foreign Minister Elena Shekerletova on Thursday said Bulgaria would welcome any progress in the Republic of North Macedonia, but at present, unfortunately, none is visible. She attended a joint meeting of two parliamentary committees, on Foreign Policy and on European Affairs and Oversight of the European Funds.

Cyprus Ambassador Haralambos Kafkarides attended the meeting and presented the priorities of the Cyprus Presidency of the EU Council.

Bulgaria continues to believe that EU enlargement should include all Western Balkan countries once they demonstrate the necessary readiness, Shekerletova said. "We remain confident in the reforming and motivating power of EU enlargement in these countries," she said. It is important for candidate countries to develop a value system aligned with that of the EU; while some show progress, political will and readiness vary across countries, she noted.

European Affairs Committee Chairman Dimitar Gardev MP of There Is Such a People called the January 11 attack on the Bulgarian Embassy in Skopje, in which a man smashed the glass door of the building, an "absolutely unacceptable act". This is not an isolated action, but the outcome of a long-term policy in the Republic of North Macedonia, he said.

Bulgaria supports the EU enlargement process for the Western Balkans, which remains a key national priority, Gardev said. The enlargement process is based on the negotiating framework approved by the EU Council and accepted by North Macedonia. "But we are concerned by a trend among our colleagues in the government in Skopje, who appear to be splitting the process in two - one part being constitutional amendments, while seeking to distance themselves from the 2017 Treaty of Friendship, Good Neighbourliness and Cooperation," said Gardev.

Foreign Policy Committee Chair Yordanka Fandakova condemned the attack on the Bulgarian Embassy. She said she supports the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry's position. The attack on Bulgaria's diplomatic mission is not an isolated act of vandalism, but "a direct consequence of the impunity for hate speech tolerated and incited in North Macedonia against Bulgaria and the Bulgarian community". She called for an immediate end to the institutional passivity regarding the escalating anti-Bulgarian rhetoric and hate speech.

/RD/